Romanian President to Visit Israel

The President of Romania, Prof. Emil Constantinescu, will conduct a state vist in Israel as guest of President Ezer Weizman from January 3-7, 2000.

The Romanian President will be accompanied by several government ministers, as well as a group of Romanian businessmen and journalists.

In the course of his visit President Constantinescu will meet with President Weizman and Knesset Speaker Burg, and will visit Yad Vashem and the gravesite of the late Yitzhak Rabin. He will also meet with Israeli businessmen and Israelis of Romanian descent.

Since the establishment of the current government in Bucharest (October 1996) relations between Israel and Romania have deepened and economic cooperation is steadily increasing. Trade between the two countries – which stands today at $231 million – is the highest in Eastern-Central Europe. There are about 1500 joint Israeli-Romanian investment projects.

The some 400,000 Jews of Romanian origin today living in Israel, fully integrated economically and socially, constitute a "bridge" between the two countries.

Israel views democratic Romania as a faithful friend and ally, and the visit to Israel of the President of Romania will serve to strengthen and promote relations between the two countries.